Bill > HB589

This bill establishes a comprehensive Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Program in Pennsylvania to address the significant geological risks faced by communities, particularly in the southwestern region of the state. The legislation creates a Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Board comprised of key state officials who will develop and administer an insurance program to provide coverage for property owners against damages from landslides and sinkholes, which currently cause an estimated $2-4 billion in nationwide damages annually. The program aims to provide actuarially sound, competitively priced insurance with a focus on scientific risk assessment using geographic information systems (GIS), and will include efforts to map and mitigate landslide and sinkhole risks. The bill establishes a dedicated insurance fund in the state treasury, with premiums collected from subscribers and potential state transfers to ensure financial stability. The program includes provisions for insurance application, claims processing, and incentives for communities that adopt risk reduction measures, with a maximum coverage limit of $150,000 per structure. The board will have broad powers to collaborate with various agencies, develop risk management strategies, and create a publicly accessible website with geological survey information. Notably, the program will not provide insurance for new construction without proof of compliance with local prevention measures, and it emphasizes proactive risk management and community-level mitigation efforts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=589